Toothbrush



Feb. 25, 1930. P. J. NOEL' 1,748,895 Y TOOTHBRUSH Filed Sept. 27. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y TOOTHBRUSH `Application led September 27, 1928. Serial No. 308,804.

This invention relates to improvements in tooth brushes, particularly in the construption of brushes which will provide means Jfor cleaning both the upper` and lower teeth at the same instant.

This invention consists primarily of structural improvements over the applicants Patent No. 1,668,216.

One of themain `objects of this invention is to provide a tooth brush comprising a plu- .rality of sections adapted to be folded or pivotally arranged in relationship to each other in. such a manner that portions of the upper and lower rows of teeth may be cleaned at the same moment.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description of the device and as disclosed in the drawings which are herewith made a part of this apn 2o plication.

of Figure 1 disclosing the two shank portions of the tooth brush moved out of longitudinal alignment with each other.

Figure 5 rep'resents av perspective view of the guiding bar upon which a shank portion of the tooth brush may slide in and out Aof longitudinal alignment with the cooperating shank portion.

Figure 6 isa plan view of a modification of this invention disclosing one of the shank portions hingedly andslidably arranged in v relation to thel other shank portion, and disclosing one of the brush sections pivoted outwardly from the other.

Figure 7 represents the modification disclosed in Figure 6, with the brush sections folded into parallel relationship to each other.

In the 5to rality ot shank portions bejpivotalfly contoothbrush construction, according. to this invention, it is preferred that a plu-v,

nected together in such ia manner that the bristles attached to the shank portions may function as desired to Contact with differentportions of the teeth simultaneously, the shank portions being also arranged to give longitudinal adjustment in relationship to each other and to allow for the use of a single tooth brush portion when it is not desired to use both of the brushes at the same time.

' In Figures 1 to 6,' inclusive, numerals 2O 60 and 21 designate shank portions having ex-v v tensions 22 and 23 properly spaced apart and formed for the purpose of receiving bristle elements 24 and 25. The two shank members 20 and 21'are pivotally arranged in relation- 65 ship to each other in such a manner that transverse movement may be given and at the same time the shank portions may be moved longitudinally with respect to each other. The form of the member for accom- 'l0 plishing this object may be of' any desirable type without aecting the merits of this invention, for instance, the two shank portions 20 and 21 may be operatively joined togcther by means of a properly formed bar 26, having a flange section 27, adapted to bel slidably mounted within a suitably formed grooved portion 28 inthe shank member 20. The outer edge of the bar 26 has integrally formed thereon loop members 29 for functioning in cooperating relationship with elements 80, securely fastened to the shank portion 21, pin` members 31 pivotally connecting the bar 26 and elements 30 together, thereby providing a means for allowing the brush portions 24 and 25 to be brought into various transverse angular relationships to each other, also allowing longitudinal movement between the shank portions 2O and 21, as clearly disclosed in Figure 4.

In the modification of this invention disclosed in Figures 6 and 7, numerals 51 and 52 designate shank portions made of any suitable material having outwardly, extend ing sections 53 and 54, upon which are mounted in some suitable manner .bristle portions 55 and 56.'

In order to allow both lateral movement and longitudinal movement of the shank portions 51l and 52, in relationship to each other,

it is preferred that a rod member 57 be rmly attached to the shank member 51 in some suitable manner, as at 58, the rod 57 being spaced a sufficient distance from the shank 51 in ord-er that a guide member 59 may be s lidably mounted upon the rod 57 by means of 'arm-extensions 6l, having openingstherein through which the rod 57 is adapted to slidablyextend, thereby making it possible for the guide member 59 to move longitudinally with respect to the shank member 5l.

The lower end of the .guide member 59 is adapted to be pivotally mounted in the lower end of the shank portion 52, as at 60, the guide member 59 being preferably formed of thin material tapering upwardly in such a manner that it may be easily received 'within a slotted portion 62 of the shank'member 52, whenever the two shank members 5l and 52 are brought into operative and parallel relationship, as clearly disclosed in Figure 7, it being understood that the two shank portions 51 and 52 may be given either'loagitudinal or lateral movement in relationship to each other, as clearly disclosed in Figures 6 and 7.

In operation this tooth brush provides a novel and efficient means for cleaning the upper and lower teeth simultaneously, the construction of the devicecomprising a plurality of shank members adapted to have mounted thereon suitable bristles, the .shank portions being arranged so that the bristle elements may be brought into various angular relationship to each other, transversely as well as longitudinally, also, means are provided for swinging one of the brush elements out of operative position when desired in order that the other brush may have entire freedom of movement.

It will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made in the form of embodiment of the invention within the scope of the following claims without departlas ing' from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is: l. In combination a plurality of tooth brushes having shankportions, bristle elebrushes having shank portions, bristle elements attached to the yshank portions,"'means forpivotally mountingthe shank portions together, they shank portionsYV being formed in such a manner that the working surfaces of the bristles. are at rightY angles to each other when brought into pivotsand closed russes relationship, means connected with the shank portions for allowing longitudinal movement between the shankportions, and means for allowing the shank portions to swing through a radius of 180` degrees for allowing the cutting edges of the upper and lower teeth' to be cleaned at the same instant.

3. In a tooth brush, a plurality of shank portions', the free ends of the shank portions having bristle elements firmly attached thereto, a hinge element for rotatively mounting the shank members together, one of the shank port-ions being pivotally connected with the hinge element in such a manner that one of the bristleelements maybe 'removed from operative relationship with the device whenever desired.

4. In a tooth brush, a plurality of shank portions, the free ends of the shank portions having bristle elements firmly attached thereto, a hinge elementI for 'rotatively mounting the sha-nk members together, one of the shank portions being pivotally connected with the hinge element in such a manner that one of the bristle elements may be removed from operative relationship with the device whenever desired, the" hinge element consisting of a 'pi-.ite member' securely fastened to one of the shank portions, another plate member being pivotally attached to the cooperating shank portion, p

5. In a tooth brush, a plurality of shank portions, the free ends 'of the shank portions having bristle elements firmly attached thereto, a hinge element for rotatively mounting the shank members together, one of the shank portions being pivotally connected with the hinge element, the hinge element consisting ofaA plate member securely fastened to one of the shank portions, another plate member being pivotally attached to the cooperating. shank portion, the plate members being received within grooves formed in the-shank portions. In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

PHILIP JORDAN NOEL. 

